Manila, Philippines–3D mapping and cutting edge digital projection combined with the popularity of online video platforms have once again brought short-form cinema to the forefront of global culture. However, while vlogs and influencer content abounds, the true potential of the medium hardly ever examined.
It’s an art fair for video art projections and independent short films, plus a series of enlightening talks by established film and video practitioners from around the world with an electronic music festival, too.
One of the most exciting sections is cinema.giff, a live showcase of vertical aspect ratio short films and audio-visual experiments. This will be augmented by a Vertical Cinema exhibition by acclaimed Japanese filmmaker Takashi Makinoalong with live video collaborations between video artists and electronic musicians.
The centerpiece of the festival are the competitions: the National Short Film Competition, where the best in animated, experimental, documentary, music, and narrative short films will show; Vertical Cinema by OPPO Reno, where silent stories unfold against a live score; and the Globe Studios Short Film Lab, where young filmmakers can hone their ideas and skills under the tutelage of masters.
Films.giff and art.giff will feature screenings and projections from local and international festival winning directors and artists such as Qiu Yang, Hito Stereyl, Apichatpong Weerasethakul, Ed Atkins, Forensic Architecture, and local art collectives namely 98B Scope, Lost Frames and Los Otros.
Vincent and short films for the Alien Franchise and local filmmakers Antoinette Jadaone, Raymond Red, JP Habac and Keith Deligero.
The luminaries judging for the different sections and competitions include Antoinette Jadaone, Sunod director Carlo Ledesma, film critic Richard Bolisay, acclaimed producer Bianca Balbuena, Respeto mastermind Treb Monteras, acclaimed actress Jasmine Curtis-Smith, and Globe Studios’ very own Quark Henares.
DEKADENZ, a club experience of synthetic rhythm, metallic beats, and primitive electronics, where people look for bands and DJs experimenting with their music under the dark side of the mirror ball will headline the party. Based in Jakarta, it’s run by Jonathan Kusuma, Aditya Permana and Ridwan Susanto since 2016.
.giff Festival of New Cinema created by Globe Studios and presented by OPPO. We will hold it in Illumination Studio, Black Market, and in La Fuerza compound from November 30 to December 1.
